Hey there, website enthusiasts! You might not know this about me, but I once stood exactly where many of you might be right now—faced with the daunting task of designing a website without a hint of design background. But let me tell you; it’s not as terrifying as it seems. In fact, it can be pretty exciting! So today, I’m here to share some website design wisdom that I’ve gathered along my journey. If hiring a professional designer isn’t on the cards for you right now, worry not—I’ve got your back!
First off, let’s chat about color. Colors aren’t just for making your site look good; they actually hold the power to evoke emotions and craft your brand image. Here’s a quick tip: don’t go overboard. A palette of two to three colors generally does the trick when you’re just getting started. You’ll want to select a primary color that embodies your brand and one or two secondary colors that complement it. Remember, your website’s colors need to resonate with your target audience. For some help picking a color scheme, Coolors is a great free tool I’ve found super handy.
Now, onto typography—the unsung hero of website design. Fonts can hugely influence your site’s readability and aesthetic appeal. I’d suggest sticking to a maximum of two to three typefaces and making sure they’re easy to read across various devices and screen sizes. My go-to for free fonts is Google Fonts—definitely worth checking out!
Next up, we have layout. This is basically the roadmap guiding your visitors through your website. The golden rule here? Keep it simple and clean! Make sure your navigation menu is easy to find, and the critical stuff is front and center on the page. And let’s not forget about white space—the empty space around different elements on your page. It gives your content room to breathe, guides the flow of your page, and highlights crucial info.
Speaking of navigation, simplicity is your best friend. Stick with familiar labels like ‘About,’ ‘Services,’ ‘Blog,’ or ‘Contact.’ Trust me; you don’t want your visitors to need a GPS to explore your site!
As for visuals, they can certainly enrich your site, but too many can slow it down and distract from your content. My advice? Opt for high-quality images or videos that enhance your content, and remember to optimize them for web use using a tool like TinyPNG. Using real photos whenever you can helps create a personal connection with your audience, but when I need to use stock photos, I usually go to Adobe Stock, Pexels, or Unsplash.
Then, we have Calls to Action (CTAs). These are the buttons telling your visitors what to do next—whether that’s signing up for a newsletter, downloading an ebook, or requesting a quote. Clear, specific, action-oriented language works best. For example, “Book a Call.” Make sure your CTAs stand out and are easy to locate. I always put the primary CTA on my homepage “above the fold,” meaning it’s visible without scrolling.
Finally, with the ever-increasing use of smartphones, it’s crucial to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. You’ll want your text to be legible, buttons easy to tap, and navigation simplified on a smaller screen. Plus, Google loves mobile-friendly sites! You can test your website with Google’s Mobile Friendly test.
Phew! That was quite a ride, wasn’t it? But with these essential tips under your belt, you’re now ready to start designing your website like a pro. Just remember your website is a reflection of your brand, so don’t hesitate to let your brand personality shine through your design choices.
Until next time, keep experimenting, keep building, and keep learning. Happy website designing, folks!
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